NIGER: SECURITY FORCES VOTE EARLY ON THE REFERENDUM;

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000558 DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL/AE, CA/AF PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID WA PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV PHUM SOCI KDEM NG SUBJECT: NIGER: SECURITY FORCES VOTE EARLY ON THE REFERENDUM; 24-HOUR LAND BORDER CLOSING Ref: NIAMEY 554 ¶1. Summary: The Government of Niger (GON) issued a warning to those who may be planning to disrupt the August 4 referendum. It announced a 24-hour land border closing and informed the public that security forces will vote on August 3 so that they will be available, if needed, to "protect voters" on August 4. End summary. SECURITY FORCES VOTE EARLY -------------- ¶2. On Sunday, August 2, GON Minister of State, Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization (MOI),Albade Abouba, appeared on the state television (Tele-Sahel) evening news broadcast to address the nation on security measures put in place for the Tuesday, August 4 constitutional referendum that would permit President Tandja to extend his time in office until 2012 (an additional three years beyond his current mandate scheduled to expire December 22, 2009) and eliminate presidential term limits. MOI Albade warned that persons attempting to cause disturbances or disruptions before, during or after the August 4 referendum vote "will face the full consequences of their actions." He informed the public that security forces have been scheduled to vote on August 3, one day ahead of the general public, to ensure they are available to "protect voters going to the polls" on August 4. 24-Hour Land Border Closing -------------- ¶3. Before concluding his message to the nation, MOI Albade announced that the land borders would be closed from midnight (00h00),Tuesday, August 4 through midnight (00h00),Wednesday, August 5. He added that security forces have been put on alert to protect the nation. (Note: According to local nationals, for past Presidential elections the GON similarly closed the land borders, generally from 06h00 to 19h00. Air traffic will not be affected by the land border closing. End note.) ALLEN